Alectorobius coniceps (Canestrini, 1890)

Alectorobius coniceps (Canestrini, 1890) View in CoL

Distribution

This tick has been found in the nests of swallows in Charsadda District ( Ali et al. 2024a). In the current study this species was found in Mardan District.

Morphological characters

Male ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 , A–C): Body approximately 4.15± 0.2 mm long and 3.23± 0.1 mm wide, dark brown in colour; posterior body margin rounded, obtusely angled anteriorly, with small subtriangular hood; surface elevated around anterior discs and periphery; mammillae sparse and variable in number; small to large conspicuous discs, with depressed and pebbled central area; posteromedian disc row reaching 2/5 length of body; genital aperture oval, surrounding integument densely and finely pebbled, posterior integument transversely corrugated; preanal groove narrow, arms of transverse section extending almost to body margin; posteromedian groove extending from anus to transverse postanal groove; capitulum with long, conspicuous cheeks; basis capituli ventrally pebbled, twice as long as broad; hypostome three times longer than broad, dental formula 2/2; legs long, slender, surface pebbled; coxae II–IV contiguous, coxae I separated from others; tarsi elongate, narrow and tapering distally, lacking humps.

Female ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 , D–F): Body approximately 3.84± 0.2 mm long, 2.23± 0.1 mm broad, light to dark brown in colour; lateral body margins parallel, posterior margin broadly rounded, anterior margin obtusely angled, enclosing a subtriangular, blunt hood; body surface elevated peripherally; mammillae few in number, subcircular laterally but more linear posteriorly, arranged in chain-like rows, mammillae with single or twin setae; discs prominent and of variable size, central discs with pebbled surface, depressed and of various shapes, posteromedian discs extending nearly 2/5 of body length, separated by one or two mammillae, two irregular rows of subexternal discs run diagonally, additional discs as shown in Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ; genital area with 10 minute setae and large central pore on anterior lip, posterior lip with irregular striations, posterior lip of genital aperture wide and V-shaped; coxal and supracoxal fold well defined; narrow preanal groove extends transversely; paired organs lie within posterior third of body ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ); spiracular plates at level of coxae IV; legs long, narrow and pebbled; coxa I separated from coxa II, subsequent coxae contiguous; tarsi narrow and elongate, with distally tapering ends and lacking prominent humps; capitulum situated between coxae I and hood, ventral surface of basis capituli pebbled, nearly twice as wide as long; 8 pairs of short posterolateral setae; posthypostomal setae elongate, arising slightly anterior to palpal insertions and extending to posterior third of palpal segment 3; hypostome three times as long as wide, dental formula 2/2, occasionally 3/3.